29 September 2011 - Double Decker Bus from London to Kathmandu

Three young adventurers - two Aussies and a Canadian - are retracing the Asia to Europe overland coach tour route made famous by the likes of Flight Centre founders Graham Turner and Bill James.

Adam Dowden, 28, from Sydney, Mitch Turner, 27, from Terrigal NSW and Canadian Jordan Cross, 27, have set off from London in a 1958 double-decker bus once used by Top Deck Travel, which pioneered the overland journey in the 1970s.

Jordan Cross came up with the idea after reading the Bill James book ‘Top Deck Daze’, in which Mr James recounts how he and Mr Turner, now Flight Centre ceo, bought a double-decker in the 1970s and fitted it out with bunks and a kitchen to create a budget tour company called Top Deck Travel.

"Bill’s book was so inspiring and we related to it on so many levels", Mr Cross says.

"After reading it, we were flirting with the idea of buying our own double-decker to do a trip like that, but then we found Topdeck had an original double-decker in the Isle of Wight Bus Museum.

"We took a punt and approached them with the idea of recreating their London to Sydney journey in that bus."

Topdeck agreed, has helped them refit the bus and is providing support along the way.

28 September 2011 - Streaking Granny Saves The Day

Posted by: Alan

In one of the year’s more unusual tales of selfless heroism, an elderly woman who achieved prominence by streaking in an Air New Zealand in-flight safety video has helped rescue an incoherent drunken man from an Auckland creek.

Betty Messent, 78, who looks a little like the Queen, made a brief appearance as a streaker in a wacky Air New Zealand Rugby World Cup-themed safety video.
She was chosen for the role by talent scouts who spotted her outside a local supermarket.

Fairfax media in New Zealand has reported that Messent was walking with her partner Russell Officer in Auckland when they heard a distress call. It came from a drunk who had become stuck in mud while attempting to urinate in a creek.

The couple initially thought the man had toppled from his pushbike, until they noticed his fly was open and he was surrounded by beer cans. The man was clinging onto bushes and was in danger of being swept away, Messent said.

The pair used a mobile phone to call emergency services, who took the man to hospital for treatment for hypothermia. He was later discharged.

A senior police office confirmed later that the situation had been serious. The victim had one foot stuck in creek mud and was unsteady on his other leg.

27 September 2011 - Captain Jack Sparrows Black Pearl

Captain Jack Sparrow's Black Pearl has been created in car format by a crew of four tourists travelling through Europe.

German highway police stopped the pirate ship on wheelsThe Black Pearl, manned by three passengers and one driver dressed in pirate outfits last week.

After checking the passengers for the presence of alcohol and checking their papers, the police discovered that the car was taking part in a contest for the 'most iconic vehicle' in Europe.

Pearl additions to the car included full wooden cladding, a wheelhouse, galley and mast, which were given the all clear by the police after the pirates presented them with a road safety certificate for all modifications.

"We wished them a safe voyage and allowed them to continue on their way," a police spokesperson said.

16 September 2011 - Bikes in New York City

Posted by: Alan

New York city authorities have chosen a supplier for a planned ambitious bicycle rental scheme.

But the scheme won’t begin operating before summer next year because it still has to be determined how the Big Apple’s crowded streets will be able to make room for 10,000 more bikes and 600 rental stations, the New York Times reports.

Pricing also has to be worked out.

When it does get under way, the scheme will be the biggest of its kind in the US.

Cycling has become more popular in New York in recent times.

In the past four years alone the city has seen the introduction of an additional 400kms of bike lanes.

15 September 2011 - Alls Well That Ends Well

Posted by: Alan

The South African rugby fans who found that the hotel they thought they'd booked in Wellington NZ was actually in England are getting a refund from the UK property.

Husband and wife Michael and Sunette Adendorff paid around $270 to the Majestic Hotel in Eastbourne, England, thinking they booked a hotel in the Wellington suburb of Eastbourne for their visit to the Rugby World Cup tournament.

Now, a spokeswoman for the English hotel has told Wellington newspaper The Dominion Post that the couple will get a full refund.

"I've been to South Africa. We like South Africans here. We've had people turn up in the wrong year, but never in a different hemisphere", Kate McCartney said.

The Adendorffs say they'll stay at the Majestic the next time they're in England.

09 September 2011 - Mouse Joins Diners

Posted by: Alan

In an incident reminiscent of the famous 'Fawlty Towers' episode, a couple dining at a Jamie Oliver restaurant in the UK city of Nottingham claims a mouse ran on to their table while they were eating and "just sat there, looking at the food".

Sandra Cooper, dining with husband Kevin, told The Sun newspaper: "A lot of people would have screamed, but we didn’t want to make a fuss".

01 September 2011 - The Love Boat again

The star of the TV series 'The Love Boat' will be aboard Pacific Princess for part of a 107-day world cruise departing from Ft Lauderdale, Florida on 13 January.

So will Tab Hunter, a screen idol from the 1950s.

Actor Gavin McLeod, who played the part of Captain Stubing in 'The Love Boat' will sail a 28 January-10 February sector from San Diego to Pago Pago and will present a selection of episodes from the show.

Princess Cruises is reaching well back into Hollywood history with its choice of Tab Hunter as a special guest.

Born in 1931, he starred in more than 50 films during Hollywood's so-called 'golden age'.

He'll discuss his career and the ship will screen several of his movies during a 12-30 April sector from Dubai to Venice.

Princess has lined up a number of other show business people as special guests, along with former diplomats, historians, naturalists and a British Airways Concorde pilot.

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